VOA慢速英语:中国的丝绸之路计划面临的问题

hit a pothole - idiom. to face unexpected challenge (pothole: a deep, round hole in a road or some other surface (such as the bottom of a river)

initiative - n. a plan or program

host - n. a person who entertain guests or country that receive visitors

bidder - n. a person who offer to pay a certain price

refinery - n. a place where something like oil is refined

implement - v. to begin to work on a plan

despite - preposition, used to say that something happens or is true

steady - adj. lasting or continuing